TLDR Poliosis causes white hair patches due to lack of melanin.
Poliosis is a condition characterized by a patch of white hair with reduced or absent melanin, commonly found on the scalp and eyebrows. When it occurs on the scalp, it is known as a mallen streak, a term popularized by Catherine Cookson’s The Mallen Trilogy. This trait has been depicted in various films, often symbolizing malice or sin, such as in The Return of Doctor X, Bride of Frankenstein, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
44 citations,
July 2013 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Poliosis circumscripta is a patch of white hair caused by lack of melanin, linked to genetic and acquired conditions.
56 citations,
November 2010 in “Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research” Brain hormones significantly affect hair color and could potentially be used to prevent or reverse grey hair.
532 citations,
August 2011 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Vitiligo is a skin condition causing white spots, more common in women, often starts before age 20, and can affect mental health.
44 citations,
July 2013 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Poliosis circumscripta is a patch of white hair caused by lack of melanin, linked to genetic and acquired conditions.
84 citations,
April 2005 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Treatments for melanin disorders exist, but more effective options needed.
12 citations,
January 2014 in “Dermatology online journal” White hair regrowth in alopecia areata may be more common than thought.
